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Owen Brannigan was found dead in a house in Coatbridge back in 1999 (Image: Daily Record/Sunday Mail)

“It is a compelling, convincing case.”

Prentice was speaking on the fifth day of proceedings against James, who was extradited to Scotland from Australia last year to stand trial.

Defence solicitor advocate Murray Macara QC told the jury that to prove that his client was responsible for Owen’s death, prosecutors had to prove James was in the property where the alleged murder took place. He added: “There’s no evidence at all.”

James denies murder and Macara has lodged a special defence of incrimination stating that Thomas Stewart, who has since died, was responsible.

He also denies assaulting Thomas Duggan in a Coatbridge social club in 1999.